Stoddard Tin Shop

 

This is the home and business of Sylvester Stoddard and his wife Charity.

 

 

In the living room are several interesting things like a mouse trap . . . 

 

 

They would fill the bucket with water, the mouse would walk up the ramp and try to get the bait on the little paddle, the rounded stick would turn and dump him into the water.  Because the pail was made of tin, he couldn't climb out and he would drown.

 

There is also a glass fly catcher.

 

 

It's shaped like a funnel on the bottom with a hole in it.  Honey was smeared on the cork, the flies would fly up to get the honey and could not fly back down so they would be trapped inside.

 

 

There is a little room in the corner that the missionaries use now while they wait for guests but it was originally used as a "lying-in room".  It was a room used by elderly people or expectant mothers who couldn't go up and down the stairs.  Charity was ill, so this room made things much easier for her.  

 

 

On the mantel is a picture of the weathervane that was made by the Nauvoo Tinners' Association for the top of the original Nauvoo Temple.

 

 

In the tin shop, many tin items are displayed.

 

 

Sylvester Stoddard was known for using patterns to make his tin products.  

 

 

We explain how to make a skimming pan using lots of old tools like a hand brake, a seaming machine, a flanging machine, a crimping machine, and a soldering iron.

 

 

Depressions in a stump helped the tinsmith fashion rounded items like lids.

 



 

This cute little stove keeps the soldering iron hot.

 

 

And here's our finished skimming pan.